Day to miss Australian Open as he takes time out for rehab on injuries

THE Australian Open has lost one of its biggest drawcards, with world No 8 Jason Day confirming he will miss the tournament.

THE Australian Open has lost one of its biggest drawcards, with world No 8 Jason Day confirming he will miss the tournament in Sydney.

Day has been advised to spend the next few months rebuilding the strength in his back and core, leaving him little choice other than to pull the pin on his national open.

While his rehab should be close to complete by the November 27-30 tournament at the Australian Golf Club, Day’s medical team believe the long flight time from Ohio to Sydney is ill-advised for his back.

“I’m disappointed I can’t make the trip home for what I’m sure will be a great tournament but I have to give myself the best chance for an injury-free 2015,” Day said. “I hope to make up for it in the future and try to add the national championship to my trophy case.”

Tournament organisers were naturally disappointed but were appreciative of the Queenslander’s plight. “It is totally understandable that Jason needs to attend to his physical health at the end of a long season when he’s struggled with injuries,” Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt said.

“We would have loved Jason to play at the Open again but it’s not possible. We think it’s in Australian golf’s longer-term interests that he gets back to full fitness for 2015 and hopefully wins a couple of majors as well.

“In the meantime we still have an excellent field for the Open with the No 1 (Rory McIlroy) and No 2 (Adam Scott) ranked players in the world committed to playing.”

Day’s 2014 was punctuated by injury and illness allowing just 15 starts on the US Tour, including two mid-tournament withdrawals. He struggled with a thumb injury for most of the year and also battled strep throat and vertigo before finishing his year with a bulging disc in his back.

AAP